Forum Topic

Cheats are laughing

Why are there so many cheats?  People who fraudulently claim housing, disability and unemployment benefits, cheat their taxes and VAT, avoid paying road tax and insurance, abuse the BlueBadge parking system and get up to various other cheating shenanigans?The local and national papers seem to be full of cheating scams and fraud cases – such a shame when our monies could go into needy services for OAPs, disadvantaged young people and other good causes. Why are there so many cheats – they’re laughing all the way to their banks!  :-( 

Gerry Tan ● 6797d17 Comments

Perhaps because they get away with it Gerry!  There is no deterrent and little or no punishment!A sad reflection of the times we live in!

Robert Julian Fernandez ● 6797d

Gerry, I guess it is because there are so many cheats in government and higher office - you can hardly open a newspaper now withough another goverment minister or some senior company official cheating;and they do it on such a large scale.  The average joe in the street feels constantly cheated by the latest government tax, everywhere we turn, parking, congestion, stemp duty, HIPS, bins etc.  there seems to be a new extra charge about to be levied. It is hardly surprising that people at the lower end of the scale consider cheating fair game.  It's the law abiding middle class who play fair, moan about it, but keep paying til the pips squeak!

S. D. Brock ● 6797d

Robert and Sheila, what's your solution to all this cheating?

Gerry Tan ● 6797d

A goverment of decent people who don't have their eye on the main chance and a tightly operated system whereby the unemployed get vouchers for food and accommodation that cannot be redeemed for cash; or are given some kind of employment in exchange for cash, even if it is a couple of hours a day picking up litter, cleaning graffiti, visiting the elderly and disabled for a game of cards - in fact everywhere the council has cut back because of money shortages they should use the able unemployed instead of just giving them money to sit on their bums.  It would help them feel part of a community and everyone would benefit.

S. D. Brock ● 6797d

They have tightened up on those fraudulently avoiding prescription charges.I do not object to ID cards for benefit claimants but do not want to pay for one for myself.

Graham Weeks ● 6797d

How do people avoid prescription charges? Surely, each prescription is made out with the name of the patient, so how can there be any fraudulent avoidance?

Gerry Tan ● 6797d

The Government should lead the way to expose cheats (whether MP's, MEP's or people in High Places). Make the punishment fit the crime.We seem to be on a downward slippery slope at the moment, it is too easy to flaunt the law and get away with it.I read that Disability Badges are sold openly in Public Houses.  Not enough checks are made to ensure the Badge Holder is the person entitled to have the badge.Lies are told in order to get hold of one of these badges, yet few are ever caught and prosecuted.Credit Card fraud is easy when the banks just send renewal cards out without asking for a signature. This happened to me recently. Then when I rang the Bank to activate the card expecting to be asked a number of questions, all I got was an automated message. All I had to do then was type in the card number and my date of birth. Easy!  This means that it is not difficult to get hold of, say, a neighbour's card. Order goods by telephone and you are away!The Banks on the other hand,tend to blame the customer if the card has been used fraudulently. This also happened to me. Fortunately I pursued the matter and received a refund.Until the punishment fits the crime then things will continue as they are.Lack of respect for others and a willingness to get on in life whether or not it is by an honest days work or through fraudulent means seems to be the norm.We are led by a bunch of self serving MP's so I guess crooks are following their example!

Robert Julian Fernandez ● 6797d

What kind of fraud is the most despicable and contemptible?

Gerry Tan ● 6797d

The East European gypsies who hang about outside post office on pension day and rob the elderly of their pensions.  They should be deported tout suite.

S. D. Brock ● 6797d

yOU CLAIM TO BE ON INCOME SUPPORT OR SOME OTHER BENEFIT WHEN YOU ARE NOT.

Graham Weeks ● 6797d

Under Shari'a in Nigeria you are likely to lose a hand if you steal from a person but not if you defaud the government. The corporate person is unknown in Islam.

Graham Weeks ● 6797d

Benefit fraud could be reduced by having a single agency, possibly a single person, dealing with benefit claims for an individual or groups of individuals, eg a family. The present system of NHS (prescriptions, dental service), DWP, HMRC, Pensions Service, local councils, and God knows what else is a joke.Unfortunately identity cards are the most logical way forward, well at least NI cards. These should be issued at birth registration, the number entered on the birth certificate. The cards could be replaced, when benefits are claimed, or by an employer, by a different card to indicate the individual's status. So no card = no benefits or employment.Severe penalties should be imposed for fraud: fines, community service "at the minimum national wage" till the debt is repaid, seizure of assets, deportation where appropriate.

Alan Brainsby ● 6796d

"Severe penalties should be imposed for fraud: fines, community service "at the minimum national wage" till the debt is repaid, seizure of assets, deportation where appropriate."This may sound a bit harsh, but I'm with you on this one Alan. I think law abiding citizens - and that means most of us I guess - are being taken for a ride.

Gerry Tan ● 6796d

Gerry, penalties have to be harsh.The number of times it's been shown on TV - current affairs, Police! Camera! Action!, and so on - where individuals say having no insurance and picking up a fine of £200 two or three times a year is cheaper than getting insured demonstrates the stupidity of the law's enforcement. The police must tear their hair out when this happens. Aside from causing personal injury, driving while disqualified must be the worst motoring offence and should be punished accordingly, probably by imprisonment as the individual is a danger to all around him. Temporary blinding by the use of blinkers would probably fall foul of human rights, which, in my opinion, go out of the window when a criminal is convicted.

Alan Brainsby ● 6796d

An good interview on the Today programme this week demonstrates this:http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7256045.stmYou can listen to it again here.  There are some very good points made.

Philippa Bond ● 6796d

And there is me thinking this was going to be a similar thread as the Chiswick thread refering to cheats of a different sort re 2012 Olymics etc.

Colin Vaughan ● 6796d

My worst cheats are MEPs, a totally unwanted form of political pond life.

Graham Weeks ● 6796d